Investing in your business’ most important asset

Stephen Vines, CEO (Qld), Heart Foundation
 

As business leaders we believe that our people are our most important asset. A highly motivated and high performing workforce is important to business success, and to achieve competitive edge we need to release the diversity and the creative potential of our people.

However, if our people are absent from work or not fully functioning (i.e. ‘presenteeism’) due to poor or less than optimum health and wellness, then our business’ performance and edge will be impacted.

The cost of absenteeism in Australia is estimated to be $7 billion per year and presenteeism $34 billion a year. But how many of us know the cost and impact of absenteeism and presenteeism to our business? Do we have strategies to mitigate these and invest in the health and wellness of our workforce, our most important asset?

Research has consistently demonstrated that employers who invest strategically in the health and wellbeing of their people achieve improved work performance and productivity, reduce costs associated with absenteeism, presenteeism and workers compensation, improve organisation culture and improve the business’ image and reputation.

Studies have shown properly designed, evidence-based wellness programs can deliver significant benefits, yielding an average rate of return of between 2:1 and 5:1 for every dollar spent.

It is important that a health and wellbeing workplace program is established from the ground up so team members get behind the initiative. It needs to be authentic and embedded as part of the culture of the way you do business.

There are many resources to support business leaders. For example, the Heart Foundation’s “Ten steps to implementing a Workplace Health Program” and the Queensland Government’s “Healthier. Happier. Workplaces Program”.    

Strategically invest in your most important asset, your people –

Healthy, productive workers = healthy business (performance + image + reputation).

For further heart health information: visit www.heartfoundation.org.au | ph: (07) 3872 2519 or 1300 36 27 87 |
e: Stephen.vines@heartfoundation.org.au